Mobile bookmarks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for updating bookmarks is described. In one embodiment, a server has a bookmark database and a bookmark synchronizer. The bookmark synchronizer is configured to manage a remote bookmark list including sublists each associated with a corresponding one of multiple browsers. The bookmark synchronizer receives a client request, from one of the browsers, to synchronize a local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, and collects the local bookmark list from the one web browser. The bookmark synchronizer compares the local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, the bookmark synchronizer adds or deletes bookmarks from the local bookmark list or the associated sublist.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/809,226, filed May 30, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to transferring mobile bookmarks, and more particularly, to synchronizing mobile bookmarks between web browsers of different clients.

BACKGROUND

A web browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with information on the Internet. A web browser typically uses the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to make requests of web servers throughout the Internet on behalf of the browser user. Known web browsers include, for example, Microsoft (R) Internet Explorer (IE), Netscape (R) Navigator, Opera browser, Firefox browser and Lynx browser.

Each web browser is associated with a set of browser data that includes, for example, bookmarks, security settings, general settings, links to pages visited by a user, a home page, cookie settings, user interface (UI) elements (e.g., toolbar positions and visibility), etc. A user may access the internet from the same or different web browsers on different computers. For example, the user may access the internet with a web browser installed on his work computer at his workplace or with another web browser installed on his personal computer at home.

Currently, the user has to save the same bookmarks on his work and personal computer if he/she would like to have access to them from either location. To do so, the user has to manually transfer his bookmarks from one computer to another on a periodic basis. As such, a need exists for a method or system that helps overcome one or more of the above-described limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system architecture in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a server.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for updating bookmarks between browsers on different computers.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of partitioning bookmark data on a server.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a method and apparatus for updating bookmarks. A server receives a communication from a web browser of a client of a user. A list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client is collected. The list of bookmarks is compared with a list of bookmarks stored in the server. The list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client is synchronized with the list of bookmarks stored in the server.

In the following description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein.

A machine-accessible storage medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-accessible storage medium includes read only memory (“ROM”); random access memory (“RAM”); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.); etc.

System Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates a system architecture 100 in which one embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. The system architecture 100 comprises client devices 102, 104, a network (e.g. Internet) 108, and a server 106. The client devices 102 and 104 may be personal computers (PCs), wireless telephones, palm-sized computing devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), consumer electronic devices, etc. The client devices 102 and 104 are coupled to the server 106 via the network 108, which may be a public network (e.g., Internet) or a private network (e.g., Ethernet or a local area Network (LAN)).

Client devices 102 and 104 may be located at different locations or at a same location. For example, client device 102 may be located at a work place and client device 104 may be located at a home of a user of the client device 102. Client devices 102 and 104 may include host web browsers 110 and 114 respectively. Web browsers 110 and 114 may be of the same type (e.g., the IE browser) or of different types (e.g., the IE browser and the Firefox browser). Client devices 102 and 104 also include bookmark synchronizer plug-ins 112 and 116 respectively. In one embodiment, bookmark synchronizer plug-ins 112 and 116 may be a plug-in application or module for the corresponding web browser 110 or 114.

The bookmark synchronizer plug-ins 112 and 116 communicate with the server 106. In one embodiment, both plug-ins 112 and 116 communicate with the server 106 using the same network protocol (e.g., hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). Alternatively, the plug-ins 112 and 116 communicate with the server 106 using different network protocols (e.g., HTTP and file transfer protocol (FTP)).

Server 106 may include a bookmark database 118 and a bookmark synchronizer 120. Bookmark database 118 may store a list of web bookmarks as selected by a user of the web browser 110 or as imported from a list of bookmarks stored in the web browser 110. In one embodiment, the bookmarks of web browsers 110, 114, and the database 118 are synchronized to store the same latest updated list of websites.

In one embodiment, a user of client device 102 launches web browser 110 or 114 to access the Internet. Upon the launch of the web browser 110, 114, the corresponding plug-in module 112 communicates with server 106 to synchronize the bookmarks. For example, the list of bookmarks from web browser 110 is compared with the list of bookmarks from bookmark database 118 of server 106. A synchronization may be performed after the comparison to reflect the latest version of the bookmarks. Such synchronization may include adding or deleting one or more bookmarks to the list of bookmarks in the web browser 110, 114 and/or in the bookmark database 118. As such, the user of device 102 is able to retrieve the same list of bookmark stored in his web browser on device 102 by starting his web browser 114 on device 104 and vice-versa.

In accordance with another embodiment, should the device 102 or 104 be off-line (i.e. Not communicating with network 108), web browser 102 may still contain a recent version of the list of bookmarks stored in the web browser 102 in contrast to bookmarks from some toolbar applications. These toolbar applications require a user to be online in order for him to access his list of bookmarks. Upon establishing a communication with network 108, bookmark synchronizer plug-in reattempts to communicate with server 106.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a server. The bookmark synchronizer 120 of server 106 communicates via interface 202 with the web browsers 110, 114 to synchronize the bookmarks. Server 106 may be accessed via web browser 110, 114.

In one embodiment, server 106 may be configured to allow the user of device 102, 104 to edit his corresponding list of bookmarks stored in bookmark database 118. Upon finishing the edit on the server 106, bookmark synchronizer 120 may communicate the update to web browsers 110, 114 via interface 202. In another embodiment, bookmark database 118 may be updated by performing a synchronization with web browsers 110, 114 via interface 202.

In one embodiment, bookmark database 118 may include a list of bookmarks 204 of the user from device 102, 104. In another embodiment, bookmark database 118 may be partitioned into several sublists 206, 208. Each sublist may be associated with a corresponding device and/or web browser. For example, a user may wish to only access certain websites (e.g. work related web sites) from bookmark sublist 206 on his web browser 110 on his device 102 at work. He may also wish to access other websites (e.g. bank websites, personal websites) from his bookmark sublist 208 on his web browser 114 on his device 104 at home. Similarly, the bookmarks stored on his browser 110, 114 are synchronized with his respective bookmark sublist 206, 208 stored in the server 106.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for updating bookmarks between browsers on different computers on a server. At 302, the server receives a communication from a web browser of a client of a user. At 304, the server collects a list of bookmarks stored in the web browser of the client device. At 306, the list of bookmarks stored in the web browser of the client device is compared with a list of bookmarks stored in the server. At 308, the list of bookmarks of the web browser of the client is synchronized with the list of bookmarks stored in the server.

The web browser of the client may automatically communicates with the server upon a launch of the web browser at the client device. In another embodiment, the server authenticates the user of the client device with the server. The server may also receive a communication from a web browser of another client device of the user. The server then collects a list of bookmarks of the web browser of the other client device and compares it with the list of bookmarks stored in the server. The list of bookmarks of the web browser of the other client device is synchronized with the list of bookmarks stored in the server.

In another embodiment, the list of bookmarks can be edited on the server by the user of the client.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of partitioning bookmark data on a server. At 402, the server receives a request to partition the bookmark data on the server. At 404, the server organizes the bookmark data based on which client device is accessing the server. At 406, the bookmark data is synchronized with the respective clients. The list of bookmarks stored in the server may be partitioned so that the partitioned list of bookmarks comprises one or more sublists of bookmarks. Each bookmark sublist may be only associated and may be accessed only with a corresponding client of the user.

Computer System

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system 500 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in client-server network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a server, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The exemplary computer system 500 includes a processing device 502, a main memory 504 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc.), a static memory 506 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage device 518, which communicate with each other via a bus 530.

Processing device 502 represents one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like. More particularly, the processing device may be complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or processor implementing other instruction sets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Processing device 502 may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, or the like. The processing device 502 is configured to execute the processing logic 526 for performing the operations and steps discussed herein.

The computer system 500 may further include a network interface device 508. The computer system 500 also may include a video display unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 514 (e.g., a mouse), and a signal generation device 516 (e.g., a speaker).

The data storage device 518 may include a machine-accessible storage medium 530 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 522) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software 522 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 504 and/or within the processing device 502 during execution thereof by the computer system 500, the main memory 504 and the processing device 502 also constituting machine-accessible storage media. The software 522 may further be transmitted or received over a network 520 via the network interface device 508.

The machine-accessible storage medium 530 may also be used to store the bookmark plug-in 524. The bookmark plug-in 524 may also be stored in other sections of computer system 500, such as static memory 506.

While the machine-accessible storage medium 530 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-accessible storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-accessible storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-accessible storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.

Thus, a method and apparatus for updating bookmarks has been described. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 

1. A method, comprising: managing, by a server, a remote bookmark list comprising a plurality of bookmark sublists, each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers; receiving a client request, sent by one of the web browsers upon launch, to synchronize a local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, the local bookmark list being accessible when the client is offline; collecting the local bookmark list from the one of the web browsers in response to the received client request; comparing the local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the one of the web browsers.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating a user of the client with the server.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second client request, sent by another one of the web browsers, to synchronize a second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; collecting the second local bookmark list from the other one of the web browsers in response to the received second client request; comparing the second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the second local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the second local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the other one of the web browsers.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the client request uses a first network protocol and the second client request uses a second network protocol, wherein the first network protocol and the second network protocols are different network protocols.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the one web browser is a first browser type and the other web browser is a second browser type.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving user input at the server to edit the remote bookmark list; and editing the remote bookmark list based on the user input.
 7. A method, comprising: managing, by a server, a remote bookmark list associated with of a plurality of web browsers; receiving a first client request, sent by a first web browser of the web browsers upon launch, to synchronize a first local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, the first local bookmark list being accessible when the client is offline; collecting the first local bookmark list from the first web browser in response to the received first client request; comparing the first local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; when the first local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the first local bookmark list or the remote bookmark list; receiving a second client request, sent by a second web browser of the web browsers, to synchronize a second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, wherein the second web browser is a different browser type than the first web browser, and wherein the second web browser communicates the second client request using a different network protocol than the first web browser; collecting the second local bookmark list from the second web browser in response to the received second client request; comparing the second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the second local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the second local bookmark list or the remote bookmark list.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: authenticating a first user of the first client with the server; and authenticating a second user of the second client with the server.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first user and the second user are the same user.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the remote bookmark list comprises a plurality of sublists, each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers, and wherein the first web browser is associated with a first sublist of the sublists and the second web browser is associated with a second sublist of the sublists.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first web browser is a different browser type than the second web browser.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving user input at the server to edit the remote bookmark list; and editing the remote bookmark list based on the user input.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a server computer system to perform a method comprising: managing, by a server, a remote bookmark list comprising a plurality of bookmark sublists, each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers; receiving a client request, sent by one of the web browsers upon launch, to synchronize a local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, the local bookmark list being accessible when the client is offline; collecting the local bookmark list from the one of the web browsers in response to the received client request; comparing the local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the one of the web browsers.
 14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising authenticating a user of the client with the server.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a second client request, sent by another one of the web browsers, to synchronize a second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; collecting the second local bookmark list from the other one of the web browsers in response to the received second client request; comparing the second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the second local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, performing at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the second local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the other one of the web browsers.
 16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the client request uses a first network protocol and the second client request uses a second network protocol, wherein the first network protocol and the second network protocols are different network protocols.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one web browser is a first browser type and the other web browser is a second browser type.
 18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising: receiving user input at the server to edit the remote bookmark list; and editing the remote bookmark list based on the user input.
 19. A server computing system, comprising: a processing device configured to execute a bookmark synchronizer; and a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device to store a bookmark database; wherein the bookmark synchronizer is configured to: manage a remote bookmark list comprising a plurality of bookmark sublists, each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of web browsers; receive a client request, sent by one of the web browsers upon launch, to synchronize a local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list, the local bookmark list being accessible when the client is offline; collect the local bookmark list from the one of the web browsers in response to the received client request; compare the local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, perform at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the one of the web browsers.
 20. The server computing system of claim 19, wherein the bookmark synchronizer is further configured to: receive a second client request, sent by another one of the web browsers, to synchronize a second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; collect the second local bookmark list from the other one of the web browsers in response to the received second client request; compare the second local bookmark list with the remote bookmark list; and when the second local bookmark list and the remote bookmark list are not synchronized, perform at least one of adding a bookmark to or deleting a bookmark from at least one of the second local bookmark list or the bookmark sublist associated with the other one of the web browsers. 